Mechanisms and methods for closure of a flow control device

Abstract

A closure mechanism and a method for plugging a flow control device of a well is provided. The closure mechanism includes a switch having a hollow interior and a U-shaped portion. The closure mechanism also includes a metal insert located within a portion of the hollow interior of the switch. The mechanism further includes a heating device positioned within the well. In the method, the heating device is activated in the well and melts at least a portion of the metal insert. The melted portion of the metal insert collects and re-solidifies within the U-shaped portion of the switch, thereby closing the switch and plugging the flow control device against flow.

What is claimed: 
     
       1. A closure mechanism for plugging a flow control device of a well, the closure mechanism comprising:
 a valve in fluid communication with a portion of the flow control device, wherein the valve has a hollow interior and a U-shaped portion; 
 a metal insert located within a portion of the hollow interior of the valve; and 
 a heating device positioned within the well; and 
 a hollow pipe of the flow control device or the well, wherein at least a portion of the valve is a coil-shaped tube configured to wrap around the hollow pipe, 
 wherein activation of the heating device melts at least a portion of the metal insert, and wherein the melted portion of the metal insert collects and re-solidifies within the U-shaped portion of the valve, thereby closing the valve and plugging the flow control device against flow. 
 
     
     
       2. The closure mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein the hollow pipe has a horizontal orientation and the coil-shaped tube of the valve is coiled at least 1.5 turns around the hollow pipe. 
     
     
       3. The closure mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein the heating device is a thermite heater. 
     
     
       4. The closure mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein the metal insert is a eutectic metal insert and the valve is comprised of metal having a higher melting temperature than the eutectic metal insert. 
     
     
       5. The closure mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein the metal insert is a metal rod. 
     
     
       6. The closure mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein the metal insert is a metal lining that is coated on a lower portion of the hollow interior of the valve. 
     
     
       7. A method for plugging a flow control device of a well, wherein the flow control device is in fluid communication with a switch, and the switch has a hollow interior with a metal insert and a U-shaped section, the method comprising:
 positioning a heating device in the well; 
 activating the heating device, wherein the activated heating device melts a portion of the metal insert inside the switch; and 
 collecting, the melted portion of the metal insert in the U-shaped section of the switch, wherein the melted portion of the metal insert re-solidifies in the U-shaped portion of the switch, thereby closing the switch, and plugging the flow control device against flow. 
 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 wrapping at least a portion of the switch around a hollow pipe of the well, wherein the portion of the switch is wrapped at least 1.5 turns around the hollow pipe to form a coil-shaped section, and wherein the coil-shaped section comprises the U-shaped portion. 
 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 8 , wherein the switch is a valve comprising metal, and the metal insert is a eutectic metal insert. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 9 , wherein the step of positioning the heating device in the well comprises positioning the heating device into the hollow pipe at a location that is adjacent to the coil-shaped section, and
 wherein the step of activating the heating device comprises heating the coil-shaped section to a temperature such that the portion of the metal insert melts but the metal of the valve does not melt. 
 
     
     
       11. A closure mechanism for plugging a flow control device of a well, the closure mechanism comprising:
 a valve having a hollow interior and in fluid communication with a portion of the flow control device, wherein the valve comprises:
 an inlet section, 
 an outlet section, 
 a collection section connecting the inlet and outlet sections, wherein the collection section is positioned below the inlet and outlet sections, and 
 a metal insert that lines at least a portion of the hollow interior of the valve; 
 
 a hollow pipe of the flow control device or the well, wherein at least a portion of the valve is a coil-shaped tube configured to wrap around the hollow pipe; and 
 a heating device that is positioned adjacent to the collection section, wherein activation of the heating device melts the metal insert, and wherein at least a first portion of the melted metal insert collects and re-solidifies in the collection section thereby closing the valve and plugging the flow control device against flow. 
 
     
     
       12. The closure mechanism of  claim 11 , wherein the metal insert is a eutectic metal insert and the valve is comprised of metal having a higher melting temperature than the eutectic metal insert. 
     
     
       13. The closure mechanism of  claim 11 , wherein the metal insert is a metal rod or a metal lining that is coated on at least a lower portion of the hollow interior of the valve. 
     
     
       14. The closure mechanism of  claim 11 , wherein the collection section is a U-tube shaped section or a coil-shaped section. 
     
     
       15. The closure mechanism of  claim 11 , wherein a second portion of the melted metal insert collects and re-solidifies in the outlet section due to a pressure difference between the inlet section and the outlet section. 
     
     
       16. The closure mechanism of  claim 11 , wherein the heating device remains separated from the inlet and outlet sections. 
     
     
       17. The closure mechanism of  claim 11 , wherein the inlet and outlet sections are positioned along a horizontal plane and the collection portion is positioned along a vertical plane that is substantially perpendicular to the horizontal plane.